KR100700772B1 - Thawing apparatus in refrigerator and thawing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The thawing apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a thawing chamber formed inside the refrigerator to thaw food, a thawing plate placed on the lower side of the thawing chamber, and seating the food, so that heat is conducted to the frozen food, and A convection heating part is placed on the upper side of the thawing chamber and subjected to warm air to the food.

According to the present invention, a separate thawing room is provided inside the refrigerator, so that the user can conveniently thaw frozen food and eat, and maintain the flavor of the food as it is.

In addition, it is more convenient because the appropriate temperature and environment that is optimal depending on the food can be created inside the refrigerator. Furthermore, by using a conduction method in which heat is directly transmitted to the frozen food and a convection method transmitted through the air, the food may be thawed in an optimal state.

Refrigerator, thawing

Description

Thawing apparatus in refrigerator and thawing method

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator to which the idea of the present invention is applied;

2 is a cross-sectional view of II ′ of FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a thawing method of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

6 thawing chamber 12 convection heater 14 air temperature sensor

15: thawing plate 17: thawing plate temperature sensor

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a thawing apparatus and a thawing method of a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thawing apparatus and thawing method of a refrigerator capable of improving food flavor and enhancing user convenience by allowing food to be freeze-stored in a freezer to be thawed to an optimal state before eating.

A typical refrigerator includes a refrigerator compartment for storing food at a low temperature of an image, and a freezer compartment for freezing the food at a low temperature below zero. And it is common that the meat, instant food, and long-term storage food is stored in the freezer compartment, the food stored in these freezer compartment is to be eaten after thawing, when the user eats.

However, if the food is stored in the freezer for a long time, the food evaporates moisture and the food itself loses its flavor, and when the food is cooked, the surface is first cooked and the inside is not cooked. . As such, the flavor of the food after being cooked is extremely reduced due to its own factor of being frozen. Due to this problem, frozen foods are usually first thawed before cooking is performed.

In addition, it is important that the thawing process of the food is to thaw both inside and outside the food, so that the thawing process is performed quickly so that the user can eat quickly. In view of these factors, the conventional method of thawing has been applied such that food is gradually heated by external air at room temperature, or a high frequency of low output is applied by putting it inside a microwave oven.

However, during the process of slowly thawing frozen food at room temperature, food is often exposed to the outside, so that it is easily decayed and becomes impossible to eat. And while the food is cooked by the high frequency in the inside of a microwave oven, the surface of the food is cooked by the high frequency, and the food flavor often falls. In addition, since the food has to be taken out of the freezing chamber and moved to a thawed place, inconvenience of the user is further increased.

In view of the various problems described above, a new thawing method is required in which the frozen food is thawed quickly and the flavor of the food does not fall.

The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a thawing apparatus and a thawing method of the refrigerator having a separate thawing room inside the refrigerator to enhance user convenience.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to propose a defrosting apparatus and a thawing method of a refrigerator, by which an appropriate temperature and environment are formed inside the refrigerator, so that frozen food can be thawed quickly and correctly. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to propose a refrigerator thawing apparatus in which the thawing process of food is performed more quickly and correctly by allowing the heat applied to the food to be transferred to the food in multiple ways.

Defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object is formed in the interior of the refrigerator thawing food; A conducting heating unit including a thawing plate placed on the lower side of the thawing chamber to allow food to be seated, and conducting heat to the frozen food; And a convection heating unit placed on an upper side of the thawing chamber to which warm air is applied to the food.

In addition, the thawing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object is the step of starting the operation of the thawing chamber; And a conduction heating unit in which heat is transferred to food by conduction, and a convection heating unit delivered in convection is individually operated to defrost the frozen food.

By the thawing apparatus of the refrigerator as proposed, the user's convenience is enhanced, the flavor of the food is improved when the frozen food is eaten, it is possible to obtain the effect of the user's convenience is further enhanced.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings propose a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily suggest other embodiments in which elements are changed, added, or deleted within the scope of the same idea. This also falls within the scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator to which the idea of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator of the present invention includes a refrigerator body 1, a refrigerator compartment 2 and a freezer compartment 3 formed on left and right sides of the refrigerator body 1, and the refrigerator compartment 2 and a freezer compartment 3. It includes a refrigerator compartment door (4) and the freezer compartment door (5) for selectively opening and closing the front portion of the) so that food can be taken out. In addition, the thawing chamber 6 in which the thawed food is stored is placed on one side of the refrigerating chamber, and a thawing chamber handle 7 for opening the thawing chamber 6 is further formed on the front side of the thawing chamber 6.

The thawing chamber (6) is a place where the frozen food put in the freezing chamber is temporarily stored before eating the food so that the food is thawed. In addition, a plurality of predetermined heat sources are formed in the thawing chamber 6 to allow food to thaw rapidly.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of II ′ of FIG. 1. The internal structure of the said thawing chamber 6 is demonstrated in detail with reference to FIG. The machine chamber 8 formed in the rear lower side of the refrigerator main body 1, the compressor 9 accommodated in the machine chamber 8, and the thawing chamber 6 formed in front of the machine chamber 8 are formed. . And, inside the thawing chamber (6) is formed a convection heater to transfer heat to the frozen food in the convection phenomenon, and a conductive heater to transfer heat to the frozen food in the conduction phenomenon, respectively.

As described above, each of the thawing apparatuses of the present invention includes a convection heating unit which heats the entire air inside the thawing chamber so that heat is transferred by the convection phenomenon, and a conductive heating unit which is in contact with the frozen food so that the conductive heat is transferred to the frozen food. As such, the heat delivered to the frozen food can be delivered by two routes, so that the frozen food can thaw more quickly.

In detail, the convection heating unit has a convection heater 12, a convection fan 13 formed below the convection heater 12, and a flow path guide for guiding the flow of air flowing into the convection fan 13. (10) is included. In addition, a plurality of vent holes 11 are formed below the flow guide 10 to allow the wind blown from the convection fan 13 to be blown into the thawing chamber 6, and the flow guide 10 may be provided. The side portion of the curved smoothly upwards in order to guide the air flowing into the convection fan 13 smoothly. In addition, in order to control the operating state of the convection heating unit, an air temperature sensor 14 is formed on one side wall of the thawing chamber 6 to detect an air temperature state inside the thawing chamber.

The operation of the convection heating section will be described. When the convection heater 12 and the convection fan 13 are operated, since the heat generated from the convection heater 12 is spread by the convection fan 13 as air in the entire interior space of the thawing chamber 6, it is thawed. The air in the whole space inside the chamber 6 is heated and all the parts in contact with the outer surface of the frozen food are quickly thawed.

On the other hand, air is sucked into the convection fan 13 side through the curved portion of the side end of the flow path guide 10, and heated air is discharged through the vent hole 11 in the center of the flow path guide 10, and thus freezing. Food can be directly and evenly heated.

In detail, the conductive heating part is a thawing plate 15 on which frozen food is placed, a conductive heater 16 to which heat is applied to the thawing plate 15, and a thawing plate 15 placed on one side of the thawing plate 15. Thaw plate temperature sensor 17 for controlling the amount of heat generated by the conduction heater 16 by measuring the temperature of the.

The operation of the conductive heating unit will be described. Frozen food is placed on the upper side of the thawing plate 15, and the heat generated by the conductive heater 16 is transferred to the thawing plate 15. Therefore, heat is transferred to the frozen food through the entire surface of the thawing plate 15, and the frozen food is thawed by the heat transferred to the frozen food as a whole.

In addition, the temperature of the thawing plate 15 is measured, and the calorific value of the conduction heater 16 is controlled by the measured temperature, so that the surface of the frozen food can be properly thawed.

On the other hand, in the thawing apparatus according to the present invention, an air temperature sensor 14 for performing the operation control of the convection heating unit and a thawing plate temperature sensor 17 for performing the operation control of the conductive heating unit are formed. And, each sensor 14, 17 is controlled so that the respective heater 12, 16 is controlled to adjust the amount of heat generated. Therefore, the frozen food can be thawed in an optimal state according to the characteristics and shape of the frozen food. For example, in the case of meat having a large shape or the like, if the heating amount of the conductive heating portion is operated too high, the lower surface of the meat may ripen before the meat is thawed as a whole. Therefore, in this case, the heating amount of the convection heating unit may be increased, and the heating amount of the conductive heating unit may be lowered to realize a satisfactory thawing state. Likewise, in the case of thin foods such as fish, if the convection heating amount is lowered to some extent and the conduction heating amount is increased, the fish may be thawed more quickly as a whole.

Thus, the thawing apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention is characterized in that the defrosting method is performed by appropriately combining conduction heating and convection heating. Hereinafter, such a thawing method will be described in detail.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a thawing method of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, thawing is started by various methods, such as pressing a button for starting thawing (ST 11). When the thawing starts, the temperature of the thawing plate 15 and the first set temperature are compared (ST 12), and when the thawing plate 15 temperature is low, the conduction heater 16 generates heat (ST 13), and the thawing plate The high temperature is compared with the second set temperature. Then, the temperature of the thawing plate 15 and the second set temperature are compared (ST 14), the conduction heater 16 is turned off when the thawing plate 15 is high (ST 15), and conduction when the thawing plate temperature is low The heater 16 continues to generate heat (ST 13).

After the above process is performed, it is determined whether the thawing process is completed (ST 20). In general, if the thawing is determined by the user's preset value and the thawing is completed, the present method is terminated. If the thawing is not completed, it is determined whether the heater is continuously operated. If this process is continued, the temperature of the thawing plate 15 may be maintained between the first and second set temperatures.

The first set temperature and the second set temperature respectively define a lower limit value and an upper limit temperature of the thawing plate 15 temperature, and the temperature of the thawing plate 15 is increased between the first and second set temperatures. To be maintained. Of course, it will be easily guessed that the second set temperature is higher than the first set temperature.

On the other hand, like the thawing plate 15, the convection heater 12 is also controlled, in particular the convection heater is operated independently of the thawing plate 15.

Specifically, the temperature inside the thawing chamber 6 is compared with the third set temperature (ST 16). When the temperature inside the thawing chamber is low, the convection heater 12 generates heat (ST 17), and the thawing plate temperature is increased. If high, the process proceeds to the next step and is compared with the fourth set temperature. Then, the temperature inside the thawing chamber and the fourth set temperature are compared (ST 18). When the air temperature is high, the convection heater 12 is turned off (ST 19). When the air temperature is low, the convection heater 12 is heated. State is maintained (ST 17).

After the above-described process is performed, it is determined whether the above-described thawing process is completed (ST 20). If the thawing is completed, the present method is terminated, and if the thawing is not completed, the operation of the heater is continuously determined. If this process is continued, the temperature of the air may be maintained between the third and fourth set temperatures.

In addition, the third set temperature and the fourth set temperature respectively define a lower limit value and an upper limit temperature of the air temperature, so that the temperature of the air inside the thawing chamber is maintained between the third set temperature and the fourth set temperature. Of course, it will be easily guessed that the fourth set temperature is higher than the third set temperature.

On the other hand, the convection fan 13 is continuously operated until the end of thawing, so that the temperature inside the thawing chamber 6 is maintained evenly, the temperature of the thawing plate 15 can be maintained properly have.

As described, the conduction heater 16 and the convection heater 12 operate independently of each other, and the operation of one heater does not affect the other heater. By controlling the on / off of the heaters 12 and 16 in this way, the heater is controlled to suit the state of the frozen food, and the frozen food can be thawed to an optimal state.

According to the present invention, a separate thawing room is provided inside the refrigerator, and the user can conveniently thaw frozen food to eat and maintain the flavor of the food as it is.

In addition, it is more convenient because the appropriate temperature and environment that is optimal depending on the food can be created inside the refrigerator. Furthermore, by using a conduction method in which heat is directly transmitted to the frozen food and a convection method transmitted through the air, the food may be thawed in an optimal state.

Claims (7)

A thawing chamber in which a frozen food formed in the refrigerator is thawed; A conduction heating unit which is placed in the thawing chamber and includes a thawing plate to allow the frozen food to be seated, so that heat is conducted to the frozen food; And Defrosting of the refrigerator including a convection heater, a convection fan formed at an adjacent position of the convection heater, and a convection heating unit having a flow guide for guiding the air flowing smoothly to the convection fan and allowing convection of the air to be performed smoothly. Device. delete The method of claim 1, The thawing apparatus of the refrigerator further comprising a temperature sensor installed on the thawing plate to measure the temperature of the thawing plate. The method of claim 1, In order to operate the convection heating unit and the conductive heating unit, at least two temperature sensors for measuring the temperature of the air and the temperature of the thawing plate in the interior of the thawing chamber is formed. Initiating operation of the thawing chamber; And A method of thawing a refrigerator thawing room, wherein a step of defrosting the frozen food is performed by separately conducting a heating unit for conducting heat to food and a convection heating unit for convection. The method of claim 5, The conductive heating unit thawing method of the thawing chamber of the refrigerator controlled by the temperature of the thawing plate. The method of claim 5, The convection heating unit defrosting method of the thawing chamber of the refrigerator controlled by the internal air temperature of the thawing chamber.

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